Agenda item

The report invites the Panel to hear from Avon  Fire and Rescue on the work they do to raise awareness on Water Safety and to reduce the risk, which will generate an open question and answer session.

The Chair invited Dennis McCann (Bath and North East Somerset, Avon Fire and Rescue Service Unitary Manager) to give a presentation on Water Safety.

Denis McCann highlighted the following points in his presentation:

• The river and other open water is a valuable asset for Bath and North East Somerset from the visual amenity however there are some risks attached to any open water, and tragically a number of water related incidents each year.
• The Fire and Rescue Service do not have a statutory duty, nor do they receive government funding to provide the water rescue measures conducted in Avon – the capability is provided to deal with community risk and is another example of Avon Fire and Rescue investing in the safety of the community.
• Thankfully water related deaths are not an everyday occurrence in the area, but there is a low level of incidents that is continuing to cause concern.
• The impact on the families who lost their loved ones is incalculable – and Dennis McCann offered his condolences to anyone who has lost loved ones in similar circumstances.
• The issue of the management of open water falls to a number of agencies and individuals – but water related incidents directly impacts many more services.
• Last year Avon Fire and Rescue were directly involved with 11 incidents involving injury in water in Bath and North East Somerset, and a very small proportion of those will tragically result in deaths.
• What is the impact of river and open water related incidents?
• What Avon Fire and Rescue are doing about it?
  • Recognising this as a community safety issue and work proactively with the partners in raising awareness of the issue.
  • Work with the Community Safety Team and other partners such as the Police.
  • Poster and media campaign during the summer months of 2010.
  • Avon Fire and Rescue paid to place adverts in the resilience manual being sent to homes and businesses by the council.
  • During 2011 to start to deliver a program into schools based on water safety and basic emergency resuscitation.
  • During 2011 to repeat the awareness campaign during the summer months where recreational swimming is more attractive due to improved weather.
  • Avon Fire and Rescue will continue to look for opportunity and methods to raise awareness and to reduce risk, whilst keeping a balance on the positive aspects and benefit the river, canal and other open water in Bath and North East Somerset.

Dennis McCann asked that the Council continue to offer what support they can in helping us reduce the number of water related incidents.

A full copy of the presentation is available on the minute book in Democratic Services.

The Panel asked the following questions and made the following points:

Councillor Gordon said that he is the Council’s representative for Fire Authority and this issue had been discussed.  He asked what equipment had been used for water rescue.

Dennis McCann responded that every frontline pump had life jackets and specialist inflatable equipment.  He also said that the crew had been trained with level 3 rescues.

Councillor Hedges asked if there was enough safety equipment and whether the equipment gets vandalised.

Denis McCann responded that it would be difficult to say what the right provision of the safety equipment is.  He also said that the crew did not report that the equipment was missing.

Councillor Pritchard congratulated Avon Fire and Rescue Service for their work considering that the Fire and Rescue Service did not have a statutory duty, nor did they receive government funding to provide the water rescue measures.

Councillor Hedges asked about the ways of having further support for water safety and rescue.

Dennis McCann responded that the main issue was to raise the awareness and the best way to do that was via Council’s media, newspapers, website and similar.

The Chair said that the Panel would recommend use of media.  She also said that a lot of publicity related to water incidents seems to be around young people and students but the other people also got affected (i.e. those with bad sight, mobility issues, etc).  There should be the best use of the resources available including the provision of lighting on specific places around the river.

Councillor Wood agreed with the Chair’s comment and asked the Panel to have a review on the work of Fire and Rescue Services at one of the future meetings.  The Panel agreed with that suggestion.

Matthew Smith suggested that the Council also does a lot of work in this area and the Panel might in the future wish to consider a joint report on this area.

It was RESOLVED to:

1)  Note the report and presentation;

2)  Recommend that the Fire and Rescue Authority work closer with the Communications and Marketing Team on use of Council’s media in order to raise the water safety awareness; and

3)  Have a report about the work of the Fire and Rescue Services and all involved partners (for one of the future meetings after local elections in May).